╔══════════════╗

The Broken Words

╚══════════════╝

When Florence reached the home and entered inside, the first thing that she was greeted with was a curious Anne. The red-head invaded her friend's space in a matter of seconds, stopping across from her and asking, "How's Gilbert?"

Suddenly, the anger that she'd been bottling up ever since her conversation with the boy that, mind you, didn't end well ⸺ had resurfaced. She knew that she shouldn't have been upset with him, especially given the circumstances, but it still hurt nonetheless.

Florence shrugged. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"

Anne gave her friend a knowing look. "You just came back from talking with him."

"It doesn't mean we exchanged any words."

"Oh, that's an obvious one. You two were physically sharing conversation."

Florence's eyes widened, feeling a deep blush crawling up her neck. For a moment, she thought that Anne would've been angry with her, but looking at the girl ⸺ she was baffled that she was smirking at her. "What did you see? I mean, err . . ."

"I'm just kidding around, Flo," Anne explained with a laugh, patting the brunette's shoulders in a friendly manner. The Robinson girl furrowed her eyebrows. Had she or had she not seen their entire embrace? Well, it couldn't have been a bad thing ⸺ this was just her comforting Gilbert during this unfortunate time. There was nothing more and nothing less. "I just came back from the snack table to see Gilbert walking away from you. You said you would go and speak to him, so did you?"

"Oh, right . . . yes, we talked." Florence cleared her throat, her cheeks returning to their natural shade. Phew! she thought, thankful that Anne didn't see anything odd and assume the wrong thing and potentially save her from the embarrassment. With a small smile, she answered, "To answer your earlier question, he's ⸺ he's coping."

"It must be difficult to see the person you most love and care about just . . . just leave right before your eyes. An almost unfortunate awakening that you won't be able to see them ever again, except for maybe until the afterlife. And while waiting for the inevitable to come for you too, you will have to learn to live without them 'till you are reunited."

A frown etched onto the red-head's mouth as she leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. There was a distant look in her eyes that Florence couldn't truly decipher, but it was almost like she was recalling something from the past. The brunette bit her lip as she realized the truth behind her friend's words. You really did have to learn to move on, didn't you?

"Why don't you also see how he's doing?" Florence suggested after a moment and Anne stepped out of her thoughts.

She hummed in contemplation before nodding. "You're right."

Anne turned to approach Gilbert who was standing alone by a corner.

***

Florence looked around the room and noticed how everyone was occupied with each other ⸺ conversing joyfully and sharing pleasant conversation. There was even one man who Florence remembered being called Mr Lynde. He was chewing on a blueberry scone and ⸺ hold on. A scone? That too a blueberry flavoured one?

Not another minute later, the girl had found herself at the snack table. There were all kinds of treats and desserts that were brought courtesy of the guests. Even her grandmother had baked something ⸺ apple pie ⸺ for the occasion. It was one of Elizabeth's specialities after all. Grabbing a plate from off the counter, Florence was about to reach out for one of those delicious-looking scones when she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Well, well, if it isn't the ever sharp-tongued Robinson." Billy Andrews. It was Billy Andrews and the very thought of needing to confront him, especially at a time like today, had the girl visibly rolling her eyes.

Sighing, Florence looked up from the table to him. "I am not in the mood today, Andrews."

"Who said I was? I was just stopping by for some snacks but after seeing you . . . I think I just lost my appetite."

"Thank you for taking your invaluable time to observe me, now may you leave?"

Billy sneered, walking closer and invading Florence's personal space. "You think you're so smart, don't you? Well, news flash ⸺ you're pathetic, and that's all you'll ever be."

Maybe it was the displeasing conversation that she shared with Gilbert just a little while ago, or maybe it really was this boy purposely trying to provoke her and get some sort of reaction, but either way, Florence was not going to take it lightly.

Florence looked at the taller boy up and down with an unsatisfied glower. "Yeah . . . it's really hard to not look down on you, Billy Andrews."

The girl witnessed Billy at a loss for words, opening and closing his mouth like a goldish as he struggled to think of a good enough comeback. Having visibly decided, he reached out to grab her shoulders ⸺ catching the girl slightly off-guard ⸺ and pushed her away roughly, causing Florence's back to hit the table. She didn't have enough time to register that there was nobody else in the kitchen but them as he moved his face towards hers with a warning.

"Watch it, Robinson, or you'll be the next one to drop dead." He smirked. "And don't worry, I'll make sure to bury you right next to your parents⸺"

Florence didn't let him finish his sentence as her hand slashed across his cheek, and the impact roughly shoved him a distance away.

"Don't ever mention my parents from your filthy mouth again," she spat, tears unwillingly brimming in her eyes. "And don't ever come near me."

Billy's mouth parted in shock, eyes softening as he noticed the tears falling down her cheeks. Before he could say something else, Florence wiped them away and manoeuvred past him and the other guests in the home.

The cold immediately hit her, her boots immediately dug into several centimetres of snow beneath. Florence rubbed her arms as she realized that she'd forgotten her coat inside, but it was too late now. There was no way that she was going inside with him still around ⸺ and she'd just explain to her grandparents that she'd forgotten to complete some homework, leaving early for that reason.

She trudged quickly away from the house, tears falling as she went. Out of all the snarky comments that Billy had ever made about her, this had to be the worst for sure. Even if he wasn't thinking when he said those words, they still escaped his mouth and the impact was still there, and it was severe.

"Wait up!" Florence glanced back for a moment and there chasing her was the boy himself. She didn't stop walking because she most certainly didn't want to see his face right now. Billy continued to call after her but she didn't give him the time of day. "Dammit, Florence!"

The sound of his footsteps got louder as he approached closer to her. She finally turned around to see him standing about a meter away from her. Without moving nearer, Billy reached out holding Florence's coat.

"Thanks," she muttered as she took the coat from his hands, putting it on immediately and feeling relieved at the warmth it offered.

The boy stared at her for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip as he thought about what to say next or whether it was even okay to say anything. He quickly found his voice at the rather impatient looking Florence across from him. "I'm really sorry for what I said. I'm sorry for making you cry, and⸺"

"I'm not crying!" She protested a little too quickly. It was a dead giveaway when she unknowingly wiped at her tear-stricken cheeks. "I wasn't crying, Andrews."

He smiled apologetically at her. "I'm sorry regardless. I wasn't thinking clearly, and I feel terrible."

"Is that supposed to take back what you said?" She crossed her arms, not caring for the cold weather anymore. Billy's gaze was focused on the ground as he was wordless. Florence considered leaving the boy right then and there but wanted to give him another moment or so to explain himself. As for her forgiving him or not, that wasn't something that she was sure of yet. "Let me remind you, Billy, but you have been nothing but rude to me for the last month and I don't even know where the sudden change even came from."

"Did you ever think why?" He raised his voice but she didn't flinch.

"Because that's just who you are," she answered simply. "And I should've realized it sooner."

Florence proceeded to walk away from Billy. She was proud of herself for standing up to him. Sure, she'd always had a few remarks to pay him here and there, but this was a different case. This time, she had something to say which was actually meaningful. The girl had walked away from the blonde-haired boy with a smile, and this time ⸺ she didn't look back.